1 JESUS FELLOWSHIP LIFE TRUST L I M I T E D Report of the Trustees for the period ended 31 December 2016 Registered charity number 1163665 Registered company number 9249316 Registered office: New Creation Farm, Furnace Lane, Nether Heyford, Northampton, NN7 3LB The trustees are pleased to give this report together with the financial statements for 2016. Its purpose is to help anyone interested in the charity understand what it does, how it does it and what it has achieved in the financial year.
2 2016 Jesus Fellowship Life Trust Ltd is a registered charity in England and Wales. Charity no. 1163665 Company no. 09249316. Jesus Fellowship, Nether Heyford, Northampton NN7 3LB Tel: 0845 123 5550 www.jesus.org.uk Email: feedback@jesus.org.uk
3 What the charity is set up to do The charity s aims and objectives are given in full under the heading Public Benefit and Aims and Objectives set for 2016 (p8-9). This is some of what the charity aims to do: Support the charitable work of the Jesus Fellowship Church by: - Advancing the Christian faith through provision of places of worship, answering enquiries and selling Christian resources. - Study and research the Christian faith and publish it through various media forms. - Providing financial support and assistance to those in need, in the UK and abroad. - Give opportunity to members of the public to understand and enter into the Christian faith through publication of literature, website content, outreach, training and mentoring. This is the first report of the Jesus Fellowship Life Trust Limited (JFLT Ltd); this newly registered charity, also a company limited by guarantee took over the assets, liabilities and operations of the Jesus Fellowship Life Trust (JFLT) on 31 December 2015. JFLT decided to transfer its operations to JFLT Ltd to further secure the public assets it holds and make sure its operations continue into the future. Summary of the main achievements of the charity The Jesus Fellowship Life Trust Limited s main objective is the advancement of the Christian faith. Core activities to achieve this objective include local and national worship and gospel events and overseas missional trips. Highlights of 2016 included three festival weekends, London Jesus Day, with contributions from other churches, the women s event Accelerate, Youth Camps, and Youth trips abroad with the Multiply Christian Network. Previously JFLT was mainly funded by the Jesus Fellowship Community Trust; however the main funding for the year for JFLT Ltd came from House of Goodness Group of businesses. The Group requires us to justify funding requirements for the forthcoming year. This increased accountability for spending has lead us to assess the charity s activities and focus on those with highest impact and relevance. The trustees have further sought to increase efficiency and review activities. There has been a significant increase in individual giving and fundraising for specific Multiply overseas projects. As four trustees have retired during the year, the charity has faced the challenge of finding new trustees. It has also had to continue developing trustee expertise, review and reshape the Multiply Christian Network and organise provision for youth. JFLT Ltd has extensive experience and resources and is keen to increase non-jesus Fellowship links and activities in the future.
4 Funds were received from the following sources throughout the year: Businesses in the House of Goodness Group Members of the church Fundraising activities by church members Sales from Jesus People Shop Available Resources Gifts of goods for events from suppliers of House of Goodness Group. Fundraising has been an important source of income during 2016, with approaching 61,000 raised for particular projects. Funds were raised for: A youth trip to Nepal to help with re-building work following the earthquake in 2015. A youth trip to Machilipatnam in India to help with an orphanage. A project in Kenya started by JFLT, providing training in tailoring skills for women. Aid for the Restoration India Mission home for children in Orissa, India. Support for small business ventures in Rwanda. Support for an internet café business, literacy project and orphanage, at All Nations Harvest Church in Kitwe, Zambia. Volunteers from the Church organised a variety of fundraising activities and gave generously themselves. Some of the activities the 30 or so volunteers undertook were: Gala dinners, one at a Nepali restaurant supported by the restaurant management Sponsored runs and cycle rides Coffee mornings/afternoon teas and mince pie evenings with neighbours A barn dance Fish and chip quiz night Young volunteers for the Youth trips to Machilipatnam and Nepal could go on condition that they raised enough money for the cost of their trip. A lot of fun was had and the participants felt a great sense of achievement at raising significant sums of money.
5 How the resources were used Jesus People Shop The Shop operates online and at national church events. It exists to promote Christian knowledge and education and sells a wide range of Christian books, CDs and DVDs. It has a small but steady turnover and is particularly of interest to enquirers at our national events, as well as serving members of the church. Events All events promoted by JFLT Ltd are open to the public and have elements for people just interested in Christianity, new Christians and members of the church. Many also have items for children - a Kids Spot, with something they can actively participate in if they choose to. The New Year kicked off with a Jesus Fellowship national celebration. It was an important time to share inspiration for the year ahead. The Birmingham Praise Day in February was held this year in a new venue: the Bethel Convention Centre. It worked well, judging by comments from those attending, and the staff were very friendly. The various content items such as a visiting speaker and a dramatic item were well received. We held three festival weekends in 2016 over the bank holidays in March, May, and August. The Power Festival in May was preceded by the Apostolic Men Empowering Nations (AMEN) Multiply conference. Delegates were able to stay on for the Festival. Delegates contributions were a highlight of the weekend. Church members enjoyed having the delegates visit various congregations during the conference week, sharing experiences, talking about faith and looking towards the future with them. Everyone involved with these visits benefitted from them. A national event called Men Alive for God was held in April. There was a national event for women, called Accelerate, in April and in November. Boys and girls residential summer camps took place in 2016. Participants spent time focussing on exploring their relationships with God with trained youth workers. At the same time there was the opportunity to make new friends and spend time with existing friends. The boys camp was held in June and the girls in July to coincide with school holidays. There were about 50 boys and 60 or more girls who took part in these camps. For the past nine years, the church has run a national event for youth (ages 15-30), called RAW (Real and Wild). This year it was more informal and on a bit of a smaller scale, but still focused on helping young people on in their relationship with God. It was run by youth workers. The Church s most public-facing event this year was London Jesus Day on 20 August 2016. The day started with a march through central London. A number of people from other churches joined in and it was a very enjoyable time. The day was an opportunity to celebrate the Christian faith. It had a great reception from the general public, some of whom joined in and received free literature. The march was followed by a colourful gospel event on Trafalgar square, with music, drama and opportunities for visitors to the Square to make enquiries about the Christian faith. Thousands of members of the public passed through the event and many of them were pleased to encounter a positive representation of Christianity. In October, we held our Sheffield Praise Day at the Sheffield University campus, which is a great location. The local congregation appreciated having a large event locally and members of the public were able to hear the good news about the Christian faith. There was also a Multiply UK Leaders Conference in October, connecting leaders of churches in the UK. This was an important
6 networking opportunity. Our local congregations are vital to the work of the Jesus Fellowship Church and hold regular smaller events for worship, teaching and introduction to the Christian faith. In 2016 they operated in Birmingham, Brighton, Coventry, Kettering, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Northampton, Norwich, Oxford and Sheffield. Multiply Christian Network Multiply is a network of informal partnerships of churches around the world. Huw Lewis retired as the Director of Multiply at the end of 2016. A steering group has taken over this role, with a team leadership focus. Multiply UK has now been replaced with local networking with churches and pastors in the regions the church operates in. The last Multiply UK event was held in 2016. The focus for the year has largely been on selffunded youth projects, including support and teaching at an orphanage in India and in Nepal missional activity and rebuilding of damaged buildings following the devastating earthquake in 2015. A sewing project in Kenya has empowered women with skills to gain a sustainable income. There has been continued support for an IT and literacy project in Zambia. Conferences were held in Nigeria, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and India and valuable time was spent with the Apostolic Men Empowering Nations (AMEN) and their key leaders. The AMEN Conference gathered around 20 people and included a visit to ForMission College in Birmingham. The conference was a mutually beneficial time which gave the Multiply Exec group lots of inspiration to take the network forward. For more information see multiply.org.uk Training Training has become increasingly important. This has included safeguarding for pastoral teams, youth workers and local safe-guarders as we promote a healthy and safe environment for our children, vulnerable adults and anyone involved with the Jesus Fellowship. There has been more practical discipleship for the Men in Training group. The Young Women s training group continues and the national Accelerate women s days have proved successful in inspiration, worship and spending time with church members and visitors. The Fusion Network conferences helped connect us with key Christians who have been able to provide support for students and student outreach. Financial help JFLT Ltd were able to provide two families and one individual with financial help. A single mother was able to find a secure base to go forward through support with accommodation costs. Someone else was able to live in a Jesus Fellowship Community Trust House, and it was a valuable time for her. Funds are available by an application to the trustees. Applications are considered on the basis of the needs presented and set criteria. Smaller gifts were made by officers of Northampton and Coventry congregations to alleviate need from funds raised for that purpose. The charity made a gift of 250 to the Evangelical Alliance in appreciation for their help. The church
7 has consulted the EA for advice on various matters and to seek wisdom for some complex pastoral issues facing the church. They have been most supportive. Media As usual, the media team have been busy promoting the work of the church in various ways. They produced blogs, videos and music, all of which are available on the church website: www. jesus.org.uk. A significant achievement was an event called The Journey, filmed and worked on during the year for publication as a music CD and DVD. The Journey brought together singers and songwriters of the Jesus Fellowship Church throughout its history, as well as others whose stories intertwined with the songs. Individual releases of parts of the event on YouTube and Soundcloud through the year were followed by an album release later on. People unable to attend large church events including London Jesus Day, were able to watch them live over the internet, thanks to the expertise of the video department. The Biggest Issue, a small booklet introducing people to the Christian faith was produced and distributed around the country by Jesus Fellowship members. Events were promoted on the website and via posters displayed at church venues. Some statistics on the impact of online media: Visits to all jesus.org.uk sites: 181,914 Plays of all Jesus Fellowship songs on Soundcloud: 70,000 Views of YouTube videos: 644,620, and 1,955,977 minutes played (that s 3.7 years worth) 15 Facebook pages actively managed Blog posts published on our five main sites: 49 Additionally, the Jesus Fellowship Central offices received and dealt with various enquiries about the Christian faith and the church. Among these were many requests for prayer. These were sent to a dedicated prayer team. Other enquiries were dealt with by the office staff. Enquirers asked to receive the weekly newsletter, be contacted by a member of the church or to arrange to come to an event, for example. Jesus Army Outreach Jesus Army has been the brand name under which the Jesus Fellowship operates for outreach. In 2016, members of the church attended three festivals to offer prayer for healing during the summer months. The teams simply set up a comfortable, lounge-type space for people to come into and offered free healing prayer. People came to see what was happening and the team offered prayer for healing in the name of Jesus, as described in the Bible. Many people showed interest and around 70% reported a difference after prayer, either full or partial healing. At festivals where a team has been regularly attending, festival-goers remember what happened to them last year and return, often to tell of the changes in their lives as a result. During the first week of August, a marquee was set up in Edgewick Park in Foleshill, Coventry as a base for outreach. Foleshill is a very multicultural area and members of the church were able to work with various other local churches and groups. Working with other churches in the Foleshill area has been excellent.
8 A charity that is well governed O ver the course of the past year, the charity has seen four trustees retire and younger trustees taking on leading roles. This is a challenge to ensure the knowledge and skills are passed on and developed to ensure the continued effective running of the trust. The charity has focused on Health and Safety for our events, updating Risk Assessments and implementing new safeguarding guidance. Further to this, initial legal advice has been received on the acquisition of Bugbrooke Chapel, the Chapel Manse and Cornhill Burial Ground which are due to come under the direction of the trust in the future. Public benefit When planning activities for 2016, the trustees considered the Charity Commission s guidance on public benefit and in particular the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. All the activities undertaken in the year were to further the charity s purposes for public benefit.
9 Aims and objectives set for 2016: Relief of poverty Continuing to relieve poverty, need and distress through a bursary fund and payments to relieve particular needs. Supporting social enterprise overseas through the activities of Multiply. Working towards acquiring the Jesus Fellowship Housing Association and planning a housing needs strategy. Advancement of Christian religion Resourcing and promoting a programme of national Christian events and local congregational worship, together with gospel missions and outreach. Supporting church-planting in locations around the UK. Continuing to promote and support the Multiply Christian Network through international conferences, visits and financial and practical support for Multiply Partners through the Multiply Fund. Working towards taking over responsibility for Bugbrooke Chapel. Working towards taking over responsibility for the church burial ground at Cornhill. Working towards taking over responsibility for the Chapel Manse. Advancement of Religious Education Responding to enquiries regarding the Christian faith. Publishing and distributing material in print and other media to promote the Christian faith. Running the Jesus People Shop. Running training courses. Funding study and research with a view to publication. Other Charitable activities. Ensure effective and efficient operations, including restructuring of the charity. The Jesus Fellowship Life Trust Limited received assets of 700,836 from Jesus Fellowship Life Trust on 31 December 2015. This enabled the charity to comfortably operate during the year. A significant achievement was the increase in giving through the fundraising activities reported on earlier. Spending was in general below budget and income higher, giving the charity a healthy balance to take into 2017. The reserves policy was monitored quarterly to ensure the charity remained in a position to continue operations for the foreseeable future. Financial review
10 How the resources were spent - Financial support - Cost of sale of Christi Christian resources - Provision of training - Cost of events - Media
11 Reserves policy In view of the majority of the charity s funding 1) arriving at the end of the year, the charity should at the end of each financial year have enough reserves to fund the whole of the next 18 months planned and budgeted expenses plus a buffer of 10,000 for contingency situations. At the end of each quarter in each financial 2) year, the charity should have enough reserves to fund the remainder of that year s expenses, plus the following six months and a 10,000 for contingency situations. If reserves do dip below the required level, 3) then unless it is clear that any deficit in a cash budget is only short-term (eg money may need to be spent before a funding or grant is received), one or more of the following options must be taken A) activities and spending must be curtailed to match the funds available; and / or B) additional fund-raising activity must be undertaken to restore the shortfall and/or C) some other body should be invited to take direct responsibility for particular planned / budgeted activities (either temporarily or permanently); Note: major funders will be informed of this reserves policy and the trust s funding needs once budgets for the following year are agreed. At no time must the reserves fall below the 4) amount needed to fund 9 months activities, unless it is clear that any deficit in a cash budget is only short-term, as above; If the policy is breached and the remedial 5) actions taken under 3. above fail, then steps must be taken to wind up, or wind down, the charity, bearing in mind that A) Payment of debts then becomes the primary duty of the trustees; and B) An estimated 70k will be required for a winding-up exercise. Going Concern In view of the financial position at the end of the year and taking into account the reserves policy, the accounts are prepared on a going concern basis. Deficits At 31 December there were no charity funds or subsidiary undertakings that were in deficit.
12 Structure, Governance and Management Constitution Jesus Fellowship Life Trust Ltd is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. It is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 6 October 2014 and is deemed to have commenced its activities from 31 December 2015. It became a registered charity on 21 September 2015. The members of the company are the Apostolic Group Administration of the Jesus Fellowship Church. Trustees are directors of the company. HMRC accepts that charitable status applies from the date of the registration with the Charity Commission. From 31 December 2015, Jesus Fellowship Life Trust Ltd took over the assets, liabilities and operations of Jesus Fellowship Life Trust. Trustees serving in the year Burling, J Campbell, T Gregory, E Hunt, H Lewis, R I Mason (Acting Secretary), J Mattacola (Chair), J Stacey, P Taylor, R White and T White (Treasurer). During the year J Campbell, E Hunt, J Stacey and P Taylor retired and we thank them for their contributions. The charity is recruiting new trustees with some candidates already attending trustee meetings to get a feel for how the charity operates. The trust did not act as a custodian trustee at any time. Recruitment and training of Trustees The trustees role is to hold the funds and apply the income for the objectives of the Trust. The Trust shall be administered and managed by the body of trustees which shall not be fewer than five. Trustees must be members of the Jesus Fellowship Church. Each appointment is made for a term of three years at a meeting convened and held according to the ordinary practice of the appointing body. Terms of office can be renewed for a further three years by resolution of the trustees. New trustees shall be elected by the members of the Company or coopted by the Trustees for a period of three years. Newly appointed Trustees are inducted by an experienced Trustee into the responsibilities and duties of Trustees and the objectives, aims and procedures of Trust. Trustees are offered such further training as they may require to enable them to fulfil their responsibilities. Accounts for the period ended 31 December 2016 The trustees hope this report will assist the reader of the accompanying accounts to understand the aims of the charity, what it did to fulfil those aims, and what happened as a result. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Accounting Recommended Practice for Charities, 2015 and FRS102.
13 Statement of Trustees Responsibilities The Trustees (who are also directors of Jesus Fellowship Life Trust Limited for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the Trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law), including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Under company law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to: select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP (FRS 102); make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The trustees confirm that: so far as each trustee is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company s auditor is unaware; and the Trustees have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as trustees in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charitable company s auditor is aware of that information. In preparing this report, the Trustees have taken advantage of the small companies exemptions in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006. Auditor Grant Thornton UK LLP offer themselves for reappointment as auditor. ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEES J Mattacola I Mason T White Chairman Acting Secretary Treasurer Date:
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